We live as if we are fully in control of our life. It’s a normal thing to do until something like the pandemic shows up, which, like anything unexpected, reminds us that we’re not in control as much as we might like to believe.
We Think We’re in Control Until We Aren’t | by Don Johnson | Oct, 2020 | Human Parts
If Viktor Frankl were still alive, I bet he’d be smiling every time someone quotes him these days.
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” — Viktor Frankl
Since we’ve all been administered the “stimulus,” how we respond is the big question. If we want growth and freedom, we need to realize that there are only two things in our control: our attitude and our behavior. We have the ability to make wise choices about both.
Making wise choices means we aren’t bound by looking good, being right, getting defensive, seeing our effort as a waste of time, or being close-minded. We do our best to play the cards we’ve been dealt, knowing we may not achieve everything we want, and aspiring to be proud of our behavior at the end of the day.
When we ignore our ability to make wise choices by reacting unconsciously or believing we don’t have the capacity to make any choices at all, we suffer. Someone bitter and resentful believes “there is nothing I can do; it’s all being done to me.” They blame others and make excuses. We suffer when we focus on things not in our control.
I really had my hopes up for that job I didn’t get.
They should not have spoken to me like that.
If only she would return my calls.
Arrogant politicians really make me upset.
I want the pandemic to be over now.
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